The University of Virginia has reaped a flood of contributions since its board voted Tuesday to restore President Teresa Sullivan to office, writes The Washington Post.

By Wednesday evening the school had collected $2.5-million in major gifts — including two anonymous $1-million donations specifically predicated on Ms. Sullivan's reinstatement — and nearly $219,000 from 657 online contributors, far outpacing a typical day's fundraising.

The popular president's forced resignation on June 10 over strategic differences with members of the university's Board of Visitors set off a storm of protest among students, faculty, alumni, and donors.

At Purdue University, meanwhile, a former dean has withdrawn a planned $1-million bequest over the selection of Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana as the university's next president, according to the Journal and Courier of Lafayette, Ind.

Marilyn Haring, who led Purdue's College of Education from 1991 to 2001, termed the appointment "a travesty and insult to academics," citing Mr. Daniels' lack of experience in academia and his cuts to the state's budget for higher education.

Keith Krach, chairman of the school's board, said trustees "are getting a positive reaction of 10 to one" from donors over the choice of Mr. Daniels, who will take office in January after his gubernatorial tenure ends. "With the governor coming in, I think it is going to be huge when it comes to development.”